This week on BEHIND THE LENS, a reflection on 9/11 and the Victim’s Compensation Fund and Special Master Ken Feinberg with our prerecorded exclusive interview with director SARA COLANGELO talking about WORTH, and then a shift to something lighter as writer/director JON SHERMAN is live talking about his new film THEY/THEM/US.
First up this week is a surprise non-scheduled prerecorded exclusive interview with director SARA COLANGELO talking in-depth about one of the complex issues surrounding the attacks of 9/11, the Victim Compensation Fund, now brought to the big screen with the narrative film WORTH. Written by Max Borenstein and adapted from Special Master attorney Ken Feinberg’s memoirs, WORTH is a film that’s more than worth your time and your compassion. Already known for her exemplary storytelling with the acclaimed Little Accidents and The Kindergarten Teacher, with WORTH, Colangelo ups the ante to deliver a powerful and compelling cinematic telling of this chapter in the history of 9/11. With a cast led by Michael Keaton in an award-worthy turn as Ken Feinberg, WORTH also stars Stanley Tucci, Amy Ryan, Tate Donovan, Laura Benanti, Shunari Ramanathan, and Talia Balsam, each brings a humanized emotional resonance to each character and the film as a whole. Watching Keaton is a master class in acting.
While focusing on performance and examining the human condition and human emotion, Colangelo uses all the tools in the cinematic toolbox to immerse us in the story, in the emotional conflict, in the humanity. Calling on the talents of cinematographer Pepe Avila del Pino, editor Julia Block, production designer Tommaso Ortino, and composer Nico Muhly, production values soar with subtlety and nuance, tacitly speaking to the tragedy and Feinberg’s task at hand. But above all, Colangelo is respectful of the event, of the Fund, of the work of Feinberg, and most importantly, the victims and their families. Take a listen as Sara talks about the “making of” WORTH, from cinematography and using the camera as an expositionary tool for character development to the importance of editing and allowing breathing room and silence to casting and performances to working with Ken Feinberg and Camille Biros, and above all being respectful to the events and to their victims and their families, some of whom appear in the film and who also sat down for interviews with Sara during pre-production.
WORTH is now available on Netflix.
Then a big post-world premiere welcome to writer/director JON SHERMAN who joins us live talking about his latest comedy, THEY/THEM/US! Take a listen as Jon goes into the laughs, foibles, fun, and frenzy that the blending of families brings to the story, the genesis of the film, structuring story, crafting the comedic elements while never forgetting the drama of family, the considerations of visual design and working with his cinematographer, score and needledrops, editing comedy, casting, shooting as one of the first films approved to film during pandemic lockdown with industry protocols in place, the challenges of shooting on a 20-day schedule but with the bonus of having a first-rate union crew who would normally be tied up with larger projects were it not for the pandemic, budgeting struggles with finding an additional $75-100K beyond the budgeted film exclusively for covid protocols with safety and testing, incorporating local Ohio community into the film, and more.
THEY/THEM/US is currently on the festival circuit. Next up is San Diego Film Festival!
